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1. World Animal Health Organisation Sets Out Action on Antibiotic Resistance
TheCattleSite.com
May 25, 2016
GLOBAL - The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) this week presented its national delegates with its plan to tackle antimicrobial resistance, which is considered a major risk by the international community.
Animal agriculture has often been blamed in recent years for a rise in antimicrobial resistance. The new strategy from the OIE aims to preserve the effectiveness of antimicrobials used in animal medicine, protect animal welfare, and contribute to maintaining important antimicrobials used in human medicine.
The OIE said it has worked for many years on the subject, in particular by developing dedicated international standards that were revised in 2015, and by taking part in the development of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Global action plan against antimicrobial resistance.
However, the organisation said these plans must be properly implemented in order to work. In an OIE study, 110 of the 130 countries questioned lacked comprehensive legislation on veterinary medicines, meaning that antimicrobials could be freely bought and sold without supervision.
The new strategy, unveiled by the OIE at its 84th General Session, sets out how the organisation will help nations to develop better legal frameworks to preserve antibiotics, as well as helping them communicate the problem, train animal health workers, and monitor antibiotic use.
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2. Deepening the understanding of the economics of animal health to optimise the management of disease threats
OIE Press Release
May 23, 2016
[Overview] The economic impact of animal diseases is causing increasing concern, explained, in part, by the sheer scale of losses caused by specific diseases. Foot and mouth disease, highly pathogenic avian influenza and classical swine fever are examples of diseases which have harmful economic consequences, for productivity as well as for international trade. To optimise the performance of Veterinary Services when managing disease threats, and to prioritise the allocation of resources to improve animal health and welfare more effectively, it is advisable to have precise data on production losses as well as on the costs of preventing and controlling animal diseases.
Paris, 23 May 2016 - Focusing on the economic impact of animal disease outbreaks, the first Technical Item of the 84th General Session of the OIE was presented this morning by Professor Jonathan Rushton, of the Royal Veterinary College of London, based on an analysis of a questionnaire sent to the 180 Member Countries of the OIE.
The purpose of the analysis was to examine the operating costs of national Veterinary Services and animal disease control programmes, assess production losses caused to countries by enzootic transboundary diseases and the impact of diseases on trade and the wider economy, as well as to evaluate the need for veterinary education to include the economic and commercial impact of animal diseases.
Such information is also valuable in supporting animal health decisions and to ensure better guidance and justification when allocating resources to maximise the efficiency of Veterinary Services and animal disease prevention programmes.
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3. Animal rights groups continue to blast poultry industry
By Aamer Madhani
USA Today
May 24, 2016
For the fourth time in less than a year, an anti-animal cruelty group has infiltrated a facility connected to mega-meat supplier Tyson Foods and secretly filmed graphic video showing what they contend is inhumane treatment of chickens grown by America's biggest poultry producer.
The new video from the Los Angeles-based Mercy for Animals was filmed at a Tyson contract farm in Lewisburg, Tenn., and shows images of deformed birds, filthy conditions and sickly chickens that the group claims are bred so fast they are unable to carry their own weight.
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4. NOTICE: April 2016 Monthly Scrapie Report is Available
USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Bulletin
May 25, 2016
The monthly report for the National Scrapie Eradication Program for April 2016 is now available. The monthly reports are available in both PowerPoint and PDF formats.
PowerPoint Monthly Report
PDF Monthly Report
[https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/animal_diseases/scrapie/downloads/monthly_scrapie_report.pdf ]
Highlights of the April 2016 Report
One new case of classical scrapie was confirmed in Texas in April 2016.
No positive goat cases have been reported in FY 2016.
As of April 30, 13 scrapie-positive sheep have been confirmed and three source and two infected flocks have been designated in FY 2016.
Announcement
Did you know USDA provides free ear tags for sheep and goat producers? If you're not already receiving your free tags call 1-866-USDA-TAG (873-2824).
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5. GAO report examines meat, poultry workforce safety
By Tim Lundeen
Feedstuffs
May 25, 2016
A new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) highlights the improved worker safety record of the meat and poultry industry over the last 10 years, according to the North American Meat Institute (NAMI).
Based on the most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 2014 incidence rates for non-fatal occupational injuries and illnesses reached a new, all-time industry low of 5.5 cases per 100 full-time workers per year. Historic BLS data reveal that the meat and poultry industry has shown continuous improvement over the years, nearly halving the injury and illness rate from 9.8 per 100 workers in 2004, the last time the GAO published a report on worker safety in the meat and poultry industry, NAMI said in a statement.
While the report raises concerns about recordkeeping in the industry, a recent Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) special emphasis evaluating recordkeeping in the meat and poultry industry and several others did not find regular under-recording of injuries, as alleged in the GAO report.
"Worker safety has been a key priority in the meat industry over the last 25 years, and the positive results of our efforts are clear," NAMI president and chief executive officer Barry Carpenter said. "There is always room for improvement, and we will look closely at the GAO recommendations to see how they can best be implemented in the industry."
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6. Senate votes to block USDA catfish inspections
By Tim Devaney
TheHill.com
May 25, 2016
The Senate voted Wednesday to block the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) from inspecting catfish, as lawmakers from both sides of the aisle clashed over the program.
The USDA announced new catfish inspection standards in December, but lawmakers rejected such inspections Wednesday in a 55-43 vote. The measure now goes to the House.
Under the Congressional Review Act, lawmakers can overturn controversial regulations from the Obama administration with a simple majority. The agency also issued labeling standards for defining catfish, listing the country of origin and including safe-handling instructions for consumers.
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